July 4, 2017 challenge

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome to the next Challenge!

This one will start today, May 30 and go to July 4th.  That gives us 5 weeks to work toward our next set of goals as we try to lose weight or maintain in a healthy way.  

Everyone is welcome to join this terrific group. You can post once weekly or every day - whatever you like - to share your journey, give and get support, offer advice, get some tips.  We have celebrated each other's successes, and empathized with the setbacks.  I personally found, the more I respond to others, the easier it is for me to focus on my own journey in a positive way.  We have seen great progress in previous challenges, in weight loss, health, learning, and non-scale success, because we are in it together and focusing on being healthier and living better lives.

Some of the terms used to report our weight:

USW - ultimate starting weight - the heaviest weight when you began to lose

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight for the day you report in

GW - goal weight for this challenge, for Halloween

UGW - ultimate goal weight that you intend to reach eventually

Some people also include their height, their age, their BMI.  

All  you need to do to join, is start posting, usually with some of the weight information.

I do find this to be an amazing group of smart, wise, kind, and determined people.  I look forward to this next challenge, and sharing this journey and all we learn with each of you.

Bobbi

[Bobbinyc]

@Gingermom6370  Welcome!  This is a great group for advice.  Just ask away.

Happy birthday.  What a wonderful present you are giving yourself.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Gingermom6370

Hi Ginger and welcome,

Advice: Eat low carb, lots of veggies, lean protein, whole fruit, lots of water, green tea, and stay away from junk food, empty carbs like white rice, potato, bread.  

Dance, walk, bike. hike, swim and enjoy.  Lower stress helps too.  

This is a very supportive group and we are rooting for you.

Logging food is a pain but it sure helps to see much and what you are eating.

I'm much better at sticking to my plan if I have to write it down and see what I'm up to specifically in food consumption.

It works well as a life style change that you can maintain until you are 99 yrs old. Crazy diets tend to backfire with regaining the weight. 

I struggle with not eating late at night when I return from dance class at 10 pm and feel hungry. 

You are close to your goal so aim for 1/2 lb loss a week is doable for most of us.  Reduce calories daily by 500 and voila you may see results. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Tybokitty

Thanks so much for your awesomely supportive post. I agree that this is an amazing group of supportive people taking a journey toward healthier lives together. 

I made a little progress last challenge but this time I'm working on the loss again.  I do eat healthy food but struggle not to munch out on hummus, nuts, yogurt, cheese, etc. late at night. 

I'm going to aim to get to sleep earlier. 

Best,

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

em.kz

Wow you Aced your first year.  I'm so glad for you.  Made good friends, 4.0 outstanding grades  and lost weight to boot!!!!!

 If you are swimming this summer you won't need so many steps since you are burning fat.  I bet you are happier in your swim suit now. 

Enjoy your summer. 

Barbara 

[Ava_]

A little late to the party, but I am up for another challenge and hope this one ends better than the last!

USW - 154 (12/30/16)

SW for this challenge - 138.4 (05/30)

GW for July 4th - 134

My goal for this challenge has been set very conservatively as I gained three pounds during the last challenge when I thought I would lose 6.

I don't know what to change, so I will try slow and steady.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Thanks so much for starting the challenge again.  I just read through the posts since we started 1 days ago. I am struck by the absolutely great advice and support that you give.  You set such a healing tone with spot on comments.  We are so fortunate that you take the time to comment on posts so caringly and welcome the newcomers as well. Glad to be here in such a healthy space with you and my fellow challengers. 

We can all make our lives better and healthier.

Thanks a bunch,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Okay weigh in 

USW 153 in 2/2015 but hit 158 in the past.

CSW 145.4     5/31

GW    142.4    7/4      5 wks. / 3 lbs =.6 lb a week so burn more cals. so 600 K daily reduction.

UGW  136

BMI 22.8 

5'7" height 

76 yrs young. 

Goal to lose tummy weight and keep my muscle weight and strength.

Method: Eat less after dinner and burn more calories. 

Skipped breakfast today so brunch at 2:30 pm.  Scrambled eggs garlic and feta cheese, yum. 

Good resolve to everyone including me.

We got this weight warriors.

Barbara G

[DJC_63]

@Gayle1018  I like the message in your footer. I needed to hear that today!

[DJC_63]

@_Lilac_  I'm glad that your knee is feeling better! It makes everything better when you have less pain.

[DJC_63]

@Cele21  I'm so glad that you're in again. Although I'm happy for the ones who consistently lose weight and have lost large amounts this year, it does make it frustrating for me sometimes when I compare myself. I'm glad to know that there's someone like me who has been doing it for over a year now and hasn't given up. Thank you! 

[DJC_63]

@almost_where  Glad to see you again! We don't post often but I'm happy whenever I see the posts of someone who has been doing the challenges for as long as me. I feel like I have company in this weight loss journey that is longer than I expected.

[DJC_63]

I'm glad to see so many people joining in already. Yesterday and today have been unusually bad for me as far as my mood. My car has started making an odd noise so I'm afraid to drive it the 30 minutes to my gym. I don't even have enough money for the shop to just listen and look and tell me if I should keep driving it. I won't have that money for 2 more weeks. My time at the gym really makes me feel good, and while I can take a walk up the road, it's not as good (plus lately there are A LOT of skunks and groundhogs being killed on the road, that makes the walk much less pleasant!) Apparently no one in my family wants to help in any way, and my friends all live too far away. All of that combined has made me very depressed.

And then I come here, and I read all of the uplifting, determined, and supportive posts you all have written. The caring and support that you give to people who you have never met has made me smile and made me feel hopeful. I come from a family (or maybe it's the way most people are in the area where I grew up), who are/were pretty cynical so there was never that feeling of knowing someone believed in you and was rooting for you. I think it's wonderful that I can go online and see people doing that for each other. Thank you all for your posts!

(btw, yesterday I turned my sadness into anger and ended up getting many more steps than I usually do.)

[Rozekara]

I am new to fitbit. How do I join the challenge?

USW-215

SW-210

GFC- 190

UGW-160

I am a 48 yr old mom of 4 that works full time. I have been gaining weight for the past few years, but I have really noticed a change in my health the past few months. I finally saw a podiatrist for plantar fasciitis. After treatment my feet felt amazing! I could finally begin to workout again! A week later the top of my foot began to hurt and was swollen. The following week I saw the podiatrist again, I told him on my new complaint. X-rays showed a break in the top portion of my foot. Long story short I am now in a boot until June 5th (hopefully).  Anyways, having the relief that I had put me in the mindset to get healthy thru exercise and healthy eating. Even with my foot in the boot I purchased my fitbit May 25. I am able to get 10,000 steps in daily. What really has made a difference in my eating has been using the log. Holy Cow! I can not believe how many calories I had been taking in! This sounds terrible but I have cut at least 1,000 calories daily. I really can't believe I allowed myself to eat so bad for so long. I was eating like a teenage boy! I haven't weighed myself since May 25, I always get discouraged when I don't see quick results! I do plan to weigh myself Friday morning. I feel like I have lost some weight and am excited to see if the scale moves. I am looking for advice and meal ideas if anyone has any favorites. Good luck to everyone on this challenge!

[_Lilac_]

@Rozekara  You just did it by posting! Welcome to fitbit and a healthier you!! Have fun and check in often. We look forward to meeting you.

[Rozekara]

Thank you! I will edit my post, this looks like a fun group!

[DJC_63]

@Rozekara  Welcome! Several of us have had trouble with plantar fasciitis, it can be so painful! Good for you for getting so many steps in even with a boot on, thats impressive! I know exactly what you mean about logging food. it IS eye-opening. That is one of the most helpful things for me, I stopped for awhile and started gaining weight again. This group is helpful, lots of good information/knowledge here. 

I also find doing weekly step challenges very helpful. If you'd like to be added to one I have a regular group of women who do them, although we are usually under 10,000 steps a day, so maybe we wouldn't be enough of a challenge for you!

[_Lilac_]

Well, here I am at 8:20 am. My alarm went off at 8am to get me ready for water aerobics and I looked out the window and thought it was 6am. It's cloudy, dark, rainy for the second day in a row, cold, and I wanted to roll over and forget about it but my bladder wouldn't let me. I took another rest day yesterday since I'd done two very active days before it. This can't be a rest day. So I need to get my act together. I'm here posting to hold myself accountable and force myself/talk myself into going out there. Ugh. I know I'll feel fantastic by the end of class, better than if I sat here all day playing computer games and watching tv or ...ick...housecleaning. 

Alright...I'm going. Catch ya later.

[Gayle1018]

Happy June!   Saw pictures of me last year at this time (OMG) 43 lb difference.... Give me renewed motivation. 

Volunteered at Burn CAmp last 2 days,  over ate some but did get all water and steps + in.  so back to work today and back on track is the plan on food plan.   Actually met sleep goal too - so feeling good for a change.   Life is good...  My dog is getting better and now can walk 4-10 miles with me, vs me dragging him 1-2 miles.   

Hope all are having a good week!

"Everything is a gift of the universe--even joy, anger, jealously, frustration, or separateness. Everything is perfect either for our growth or our enjoyment." Ken Keyes Jr.

[Rozekara]

I would love to join your group!

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot Thank you so much for your very kind comments.  Actually, they can all be said about you.  When I first started in the forums, you were the person who always set the positive tone of being kind, supportive, generous with caring and smart advice, and focusing on health.  That tone remains in these challenges in large part because of you.

You have also been an inspiration.  Every time you talk about dancing, I want to either dance (something I also love, but don't do), or find something else filled with joy to be active with.  When you share your ups and downs, it is always with such a positive attitude.  

Thank you.

Bobbi